Salem gets $1.7M grant for solar projects at schools

Sunday

Aug 7, 2016 at 10:17 AM

The state has awarded a $1,764,510 grant to the city of Salem for the installation of two solar projects at Salem public schools. The grant is part of an agreement by the Commonwealth to assist host municipalities of active or decommissioned coal generation facilities with developing and implementing a clean energy strategy, including the building of a renewable energy project within the community.

“Massachusetts is a national leader in embracing clean, emerging technologies,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “By embracing clean solar energy technologies, Salem will save hundreds of thousands of dollars going forward that can be reinvested in other vital municipal functions.”

“Our administration is committed to working with our municipal partners to meet our ambitious shared clean energy goals,” said Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. “By working with the city of Salem to transition from traditional power generation to clean alternatives, our administration is affirming our commitment to a diverse energy portfolio.”

The grant awarded today is for the installation of rooftop solar installations at two elementary schools owned by the city of Salem. The grant will fund a 430 kW system at the Bentley Elementary School that will offset $75,996 in annual electrical costs, and a 491 kW system at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School that will offset $86,772 in yearly electrical costs. The combined capacity of the two projects will generate enough energy to offset 100 percent of the electricity needs of the two buildings.

“The installation of two solar arrays at Salem public schools will have long-term positive economic and environmental benefits for Salem and our Commonwealth as a whole,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton. “The Baker-Polito Administration is committed to working with our municipal partners across Massachusetts to lower energy consumption and reduce emissions.”

“DOER is proud of our partnership with the City of Salem and continued support their efforts to adopt clean energy technology,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson. “These solar arrays will build upon Salem’s already impressive efforts as a Green Community and solidifies their place a statewide leader in clean energy adoption.”

Salem was home to the now decommissioned Salem Harbor Generating Station, a 740 MW coal and oil fired power generation plant that operated until being shut down on June 1, 2014. It was replaced by the Salem Harbor Station, a 674MW natural gas-fired electric generation facility.

Salem has been a designated Green Community since 2010 and has received nearly $700,000 in grant funding for energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainability projects. There are 155 Green Communities in the Commonwealth.

“Both of these projects make good sense environmentally and fiscally for the City of Salem,” stated state Sen. Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem). “Salem has been a leader in implementing alternative energy and green friendly initiatives. These solar arrays will add to their already impressive portfolio.”

“This grant re-affirms Salem's designation as a proud Green Community and demonstrates our commitment to renewable energy which benefits our city environmentally and economically,” said state Rep. Paul Tucker (D-Salem). “I am grateful to Gov. Baker and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for this investment which will pay dividends well into the future."

“The city of Salem is excited and grateful for the opportunity to install over 900kw of Solar PV on two elementary schools in Salem,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “Through the Department of Energy Resources Decommissioned Coal Plant Grant Program, Salem will offset 100 percent of the energy usage in these two schools while also producing solar renewable credits that generate income for the Salem School Department. This renewable energy project demonstrates Salem’s continued commitment to sustainable energy generation and a leader in energy resiliency in the Commonwealth.”

The funding for this award is to come Alternative Compliance Payments (ACP), which are paid by electrical retail suppliers if they have insufficient Renewable or Alternative Energy Certificates to meet their compliance obligations under the Renewable and Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard programs.